The Early Education Center Teacher is responsible for caring for and educating young children aged three months through 2 years (infant) or 2 years to 5 years old (toddler/preschool). The educator is responsible for creating a warm and nurturing relationship with each child, designing and maintaining an environment which stimulates curiosity, and utilizes a dynamic “emergent” curriculum grounded in hands-on exploration and play, inspired by the Reggio-Emilia Approach.
Requirements
- Curriculum Development: Must be able to develop and plan a developmentally appropriate curriculum that supports diverse learning needs and adapts based on children’s interests.
- Safe Learning Environment: Must be able to create and maintain a safe, nurturing, and engaging classroom that encourages exploration and creativity.
- Child Development Knowledge: Knowledge of human and child development to support the creation of an effective learning environment.
- Observation Skills: Ability to complete comprehensive observations of children to assess developmental progress and adjust curriculum as necessary.
- Licensing Compliance: Ability to complete the required documentation and forms in accordance with licensing regulations.
- Adaptability: Must be able to tailor and adapt the curriculum to meet the varying needs of individual children and respond to their interests.
- Teamwork and Collaboration: Ability to work effectively as a team member, collaborating with colleagues and participating in team discussions to enhance classroom practices.
- Positive Guidance and Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to use positive guidance techniques to support children’s social-emotional development.
- Professionalism and Flexibility: Must be reliable, flexible, and open to feedback in order to improve performance and meet the needs of the children and the program.
- Physical Ability: Must be physically able to perform the duties required of an Early Childhood Educator, including lifting, bending, and actively engaging with children in both structured and spontaneous activities.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision insurance
- Health and dependent care saving accounts
- Paid sick and vacation time
- Paid holidays
- Simple IRA (if employee makes more than $5,000 in a year) and 457 retirement plans with District match
- Employee discounts in accordance with Highlands Recreation District Employee Handbook